Center Console Molle Panel

jscherb

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Messages
889
Location
Wilmington, DE
The side of the center console seems like a good place for small Molle pouches, flashlights, etc. A small Molle panel on the side of the console seems like a good idea but the only product I've found that's commercially available requires drilling so I came up with a simple Molle panel that installs to the side of the center console with no drilling or adhesive.

ConsoleMolleTJ2_zpsbgxaawrz.jpg


If the seat is slid all the way forward it could interfere with a pouch towards the rear of the Molle panel so the panel is a little shorter than the console.

ConsoleMolleTJ1_zpss0cahc5y.jpg


I made the panel stiff enough to support belt clip pouches, in this photo there's a Husky belt clip pouch from Home Depot intended to be used on a tool belt, and a small belt clip phone pouch (this photo was taken in my JKU, the Molle panel attaches to that console the same way it works with the TJ console.

ConsoleMolle2_zpso3hqvvl9.jpg


Another way I'm using the attachment to the console is for a tactical flashlight and charger...

Sometimes companies send me products to test and a few months ago I received a really nice tactical flashlight. It's advertised to be 2000 lumens, which is roughly twice the brightness of a standard low beam headlight (700-1200 lumens). It takes rechargeable batteries which have a separate charger. Having a separate charger didn't seem at first to be a great idea in the Jeep, but keeping a second setr of batteries always charged and in the Jeep means that the spares can be swapped in if the flashlight batteries ever die, so I think it's actually a good thing. The problem is finding a place to put the charger and extra batteries, so I sewed a flashlight holder that attaches to the side of the console, also without drilling.

ConsoleMolleTacticalFlashlight_zps843zniw7.jpg


The charger with the extra batteries is in the pouch below the flashlight, and in the photo above you can see a USB wire going to the power outlet in the dash for charging the batteries. This is the charger:

FlashlightBatteryCharger_zpskss1k3rb.jpg


While I was in the process of sewing the flashlight holder pictured above also sewed one that attaches to the roll bar without the charger. Depending on where I'm going and how much light I think I could need I may use one or the other flashlight holder.

RollBarTacticalFlashlight_zpssavbuyrm.jpg
 
Great idea. Been looking for something like this for small accessories. Is the panel totally homemade? How does it attach?
 
Not sure how the OP attached their panel, but the same belt clip gizmo that is on the phone holder or tool pouch could easily work, you'd just have to push it up from the bottom edge of the console.
If you try this approach w/o using the panel, then the pouches would be upside down when installed.
 
Good stuff-

Husky has some killer pouches - in tool bag section. I use one in my f250

Its like its made for it
 
Replying to the questions and comments in the posts of the last few days...

Yes, it's homemade. It attaches with clips on the back which slide under/behind the plastic of the console. It's a simple design was an easy sewing project.

No screws or double-sided tape, just the belt-style clips. Not all belt clips work well to slip under the edge of the console so some experimentation to find the proper clips was required. This is the back view, the belt clips slip into pockets made with webbing, one clip is removed to show the webbing pocket:

ConsoleBuddyBackView.jpg


If I need to remove it, I usually leave the clips in place and slide the panel off of the clips. This photo shows the clips in place in my JKU:

ConsoleBuddyClips.jpg


The panel is easily removable and does no harm.

I also made one with a pocket instead of a MOLLE panel and it's shown here with the seat in my LJ pushed all the way forward. Doesn't interfere with move the seat forward.

ConsoleBuddyLJSeat34Forward.jpg


I considered suggesting it to Overland Outfitters as a product, but decided not to because I didn't think there would be enough interest in it to make it worth their while to add it to their product lineup.